Temporary Squad and Fairy Construct

Rumors about the Dark Dragon are said to originate from the era of the Giant Wars and the demise of Esolin, but its dark history sank beneath the Abyssal Sea, fragmented and long forgotten. What remains today are mere fragments of records about the cataclysm and descriptions of its appearance in the Abyssal Sea Scroll:

With wings and four horns, as black as smoke and dust, the disaster of Esolin, the fire of Venus, it blotted out the sun and sky, like the end of the world descending.

Just as Fang Heng saw it now.

As the dragon landed, it flapped its wings, shaking off the churning black smoke as if dusting itself off, revealing the gray wing surface beneath, a state between substance and smoke. It folded its wings, its black mist-shrouded forelegs pressing onto two tables, and raised its head, standing a good six to seven meters tall.

A single eye, shimmering with golden-red light, flickered within the surging smoke, seemingly positioned on its head, between its four horns. Its slender horns forked forward, twice the length of its head, black and shiny, as ferocious as a skull.

As soon as it landed, it opened its massive maw, revealing rows of fangs, and let out a long roar from its throat.

That was the Dragon Song, a shriek that brought destruction and despair—

As if sweeping in from the depths of the soul, it plunged one into the abyss of darkness, isolated and helpless, surrounded by enemies. Within the smoke, a colossal figure loomed, yet the eyes could not see, only a golden-red giant pupil, like molten lava, slowly blinked.

It was an ancient fear, making one feel insignificant and unable to control oneself. Fang Heng felt his vision darken intermittently, and many people screamed uncontrollably, rushing about like headless flies, trampling each other, or losing their minds and curling up on the ground, trembling. The hall descended into chaos.

The few people around were similarly trapped in fear, unable to break free. But suddenly, a gentle green light bloomed from the black mist, as if shining directly into the heart, bringing a sense of peace.

Fang Heng was the first to awaken in the light.

Then he heard a low shout, Hong Ye's voice, reminding them, "Look up!"

Fang Heng raised his head and was astonished to see the ferocious dragon horn hanging from the dome gradually turning into black smoke and falling. The smoke washed over the dragon's body below, causing its dull gray scales to gradually materialize, their surfaces reflecting a steel-mirror-like sheen.

He checked the dragon's level through the system; it was ??? on the display. He didn't know if his level was too low or if the opponent was a leader-class creature.

And from the swirling mist around, monsters began to emerge. They were humanoid in shape but had reptilian faces, horns and scales growing on their heads, sharp claws and teeth, and though they had no wings, they dragged long tails behind them.

These monsters swarmed in from all directions.

One of the dragon-men agilely climbed onto a table and sprinted towards them. Midway, it suddenly leaped up, spreading its arms to pounce on Fang Heng.

A scream came from behind Fang Heng.

This terrified cry forced him to stay put. It was Jita's voice; if he moved, this trainee would surely die.

But suddenly, a half-human-sized construct burst through the mist from the side, its four legs galloping as it slammed into the dragon-man, sending it flying with a thud back into the black smoke.

Walker Type III.

Fang Heng turned his head and saw Liu Li Yue putting down her gloves. The young man, with his other hand supporting a pale-faced Wu Di, said angrily, "What are you all standing around for?"

"Are you injured?" Hong Ye looked at the pale-faced Wu Di. Although the relationships among those present were not exactly harmonious, she understood that this was clearly not the time to hold grudges.

"I'm fine," Wu Di shook his head and finally straightened up. "Just got bumped. What was that just now?"

The few people turned their heads and saw that the light had come from the pendant on Etila's chest, shaped like a leaf, lying flat on her chest and emitting a faint green glow.

The elven girl picked it up, and only then did everyone see that it was Ameya's holy emblem.

"Nature's Holy Emblem? Are you a follower of the Forest Goddess?" Hong Ye asked, somewhat surprised. "Then this light is...?"

"It's the Goddess warning us," Etila said softly, her voice gentle, possessing a calming power. "It's a dark creature."

"No, it's just a remnant soul," Wu Di said, looking in that direction.

Everyone followed his gaze.

The dragon was in the center of the hall—

But it seemed to have no further actions. Instead, it lowered itself, covered its wings, and continued to receive the baptism of black smoke. And of the giant dragon horn hanging above its head, about half remained.

"Dark Dragon... Didn't they say the last Dark Dragon died in the Deadland Swamp?" Hudi asked in a low voice. Fang Heng saw him and the Paparal hiding under a table and couldn't help but roll his eyes; who knew how terrified these two were.

"That's not a true Dark Dragon, just its remnant soul... perhaps related to that dragon horn," Wu Di replied. "Someone triggered the quest for that dragon horn."

At this point, Jita, comforted by Tian Lan, had finally recovered, but her small face was still pale. She adjusted her large glasses and softly recited, "Do not forget the fallen enemy—"

"That's the Dragon Slayer's Adage," Hong Ye said. "But our Knight Order has also studied that dragon horn, and each time we encountered that old man Shayek. He usually wouldn't let anyone get close to the dragon horn easily. How was it triggered this time?"

"Mazak and Mr. Shayek disappeared before the main match started. I saw them leave the hall," Tian Lan replied.

"Damn it, unreliable," the young man cursed irritably as he controlled his Walker to fight the dragon-men. "You better hurry up and decide, and give me a hand."

In the swirling black mist, dragon-men were attacking everyone in the hall. Travelers were either unconscious, dead, or fleeing. The adventurers were locked in combat with these monsters. The hall, which had been brightly lit moments ago, had now become a chaotic battlefield.

More than a dozen dwarf guards rushed in from the main entrance, but they were blocked by the dragon-men and the smoke, unable to approach this area for the time being.

Two more dragon-men burst out of the mist and lunged at the group, but were blocked by Liu Li Yue's Walker.

However, the dragon-men were not low-level, at least level ten or above, and it was clearly difficult for her to fight two at once.

Wu Di nodded, put on his control gloves, and raised his hand. His Fearless charged out of the mist and joined the fray. Before long, he punched through the head of one of the dragon-men.

As his iron fist pierced the skull, the dragon-man dissolved into a mist of smoke and returned to the black dust.

But in just a moment, more monsters spawned from the smoke.

"Can't kill them permanently?" Hong Ye frowned upon seeing this. "What do we do?"

Only Fang Heng felt no fear at all; instead, he was somewhat eager and said to the others, "Its power doesn't seem to have fully recovered yet. Can we—?"

"Are you crazy?" Hong Ye and Liu Li Yue interrupted him in unison. The latter looked at him as if he were an idiot.

"No, Brother Shaya!" Tian Lan also quickly said.

"That's a leader-class creature," Wu Di shook his head and explained. "Even if it lay there for us to attack, we probably wouldn't be able to break its defense."

"Last time our guild went to hunt a leader-class dragon, four guilds went, and only one guild maintained its complete structure after the battle. And that was just a lesser dragon species," Hong Ye nodded in agreement.

Everyone looked at Fang Heng after hearing this.

Fang Heng glanced at everyone innocently and scratched his head—what could he do? He didn't know how powerful leader-class creatures were. Wasn't it obvious that the dragon's strength hadn't recovered yet?

"Xia Ya is just a newcomer, so it's normal he doesn't know," Etila said softly, holding Ameya's holy emblem, its gentle green light dispelling the surrounding darkness. "In any case, let's leave this place first."

Everyone nodded.

Wu Di and Hong Ye, along with a few others, had narrowly escaped the illusion thanks to her holy emblem, so they took Etila's words very seriously. And since their partner had spoken, even if that young man had any objections to Fang Heng and his group, he could only shut up now.

"Then let's go around it and head for the main entrance?" Luo Yu asked.

"Unreliable," Hong Ye shook her head. Putting aside the increasing number of dragon-men rushing out of the mist ahead, just the thought of having to pass by that dragon made the plan seem full of uncertainties.

Fang Heng couldn't help but look behind them, where another large door stood. "Where does that passage behind us lead?"

"The cellar," Wu Di replied.

"Damn it, isn't that just waiting to die?" Liu Li Yue couldn't help but roll her eyes when she heard this.

"Wait, I have an idea—" At this moment, a weak voice came from under the table. Everyone turned their heads and found the Paparal crossbowman hugging a table leg.

The little chubby guy raised a short arm, his small eyes like black beans looking at everyone, and hesitantly said, "...I mean, there should be a passage for transporting materials from the kitchen."

Everyone looked at each other.

"Good idea," Hong Ye couldn't help but her eyes lit up. "That should lead to the back door of the inn."

"Which direction is the kitchen?" Wu Di immediately asked.

"I know, I know," Parker crawled out from under the table and said loudly, "This way, follow me!"

"How do you know that too?" Hong Ye couldn't help but look at the little dwarf with some curiosity. She had been here several times but had never paid attention to the kitchen's location.

"It's a racial talent of the Paparal," the former replied, patting his chest. "There's no Paparal who can't find a kitchen."

"There's such a talent?" Hong Ye was surprised.

Only Tian Lan couldn't help but chuckle at this.

"Wait a moment," Wu Di stopped everyone. "Since someone has triggered this Dragon Horn quest, it's not necessarily safe outside the inn right now. Even if it is safe, we must be prepared. Everyone should team up first and decide on everyone's roles to avoid any mishaps later."

As he spoke, he looked back at the hall. His dead fish eyes held no emotional fluctuations, as if everything happening now had nothing to do with him. He only instructed Liu Li Yue, "You hold the line for now."

The young man didn't reply, only using his Walker to fight and retreat, blocking more dragon-men from charging.

Then he loudly reminded them, "I can't hold on for long, you'd better hurry."

Wu Di nodded.

Fang Heng looked at the latter with some surprise, not expecting that this guy, who seemed indifferent and somewhat arrogant about everything, had such a meticulous side.

Wu Di was the first to speak to Hong Ye, "Hong Ye, do you still have combat capability?"

Hong Ye nodded and raised her hand. A blue light flickered in the air, like many light blue squares flashing and overlapping, finally forming an octahedron.

When all the light disappeared, a brand-new, jet-black octahedron floated in mid-air, slowly spinning.

Another Annihilator QV700.

Fang Heng's mouth watered as he watched. This was a projection device that could project inanimate matter into actual data states and store them in the system. Its working principle was exactly the same as the data system for money, but it was much more expensive. A projection device with standard capacity (30Kg) cost over a hundred thousand Riser.

At this moment, Wu Di looked at him again. "And you, Xia Ya?"

"Me?" Fang Heng was stunned for a moment before realizing they were talking about him. "My Walker is damaged, but if you give me some time, I can fix it."

Liu Li Yue, who was fighting the dragon-men, was furious when she heard this and couldn't help but curse, "You only have one Flexible Construct? How can you be so poor? My goodness, are you really a Combat Artificer?"

Tian Lan was about to retort defensively, but Wu Di had already stopped them and continued to ask, "How much time do you need?"

Fang Heng silently estimated, "Five... no, three minutes."

"Three minutes, one hundred and eighty seconds?" Hong Ye looked at him in shock. "You can fix your Walker in three minutes? Little brother, are you not bragging?"

"I can only fix it roughly," Fang Heng also said. "And I can't recharge it."

"You still want to recharge it?" Hong Ye rolled her eyes.

But the young man retorted impatiently, "Don't talk about three minutes, not even one minute is enough. Look up, the dragon horn is about to disappear completely!"

Everyone looked up and realized that Liu Li Yue was not exaggerating. In this short time, the dragon horn was less than one-fifth of its original size.

Wu Di frowned. With one less combatant, it would be difficult for the three of them to protect so many people. Those dragon-men were Dark creatures of level ten or above, so in his eyes, Etila at level seven or eight, and that Paparal crossbowman, were not combatants at all.

He had a spare Construct, but it wasn't something Fang Heng's level could use—

Wu Di thought for a moment and was about to tell Fang Heng to go to the back to protect the three trainees. He thought that Fang Heng and Etila's group should have enough ability to at least share some of the pressure.

But just then, a light and agile voice came from the side:

"Mr. Xia Ya can use my Construct—"

Fang Heng turned his head in astonishment.

The blonde girl had emerged from the mist at some unknown time, looking like a delicate figure from a fairy tale, stunning the others. However, the tall maid followed closely behind her, her violet eyes calmly and vigilantly observing everyone.

Sylvid placed the huge leather suitcase down in front of them with a bang, holding it with both hands.

With a gloved hand, clad in snow-white, she lightly tapped the leather case. With a soft click, seven or eight gold-leaf-covered clasps sprang open simultaneously. The case's aristocratic family crest slowly caved inward, and the motto inscribed upon it—"Time flows like water, wisdom grows with each passing day"—flashed with a solemn light on the gilded banner.

Then, with a click, the leather case split open, revealing its contents.

It was a fairy-like doll, nestled amongst thorns and roses.

Or rather, a Flexible Construct.

"Ah—" Hong Ye couldn't help but cry out the moment she saw the Flexible Construct.

"A Fairy Construct!?"

Things have been a bit busy these past two days, so updates will be a little later than usual. However, I'll maintain updates throughout the New Year period~ Please rest assured. Also, I'm seeking recommendations and favorites~